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In his new role, he’ll help build out a new practice area for the firm focused on intellectual property and antitrust issues. The issue area is ripe for a law firm and lobbying shop to capitalize on growing interest in hot-button issues like data privacy, digital media distribution and patent reform.

“Legislation actually moves on these issues,” Cooper told POLITICO.

Intellectual property issues are different from other big national debates, according to Cooper. The big questions on the issues of intellectual property often cross party lines and have a real shot at passage into law — even in a divided Congress.

“A lot of really hot topics that you read about in the press every day can’t really gain traction in Congress,” he said. “IP issues really do have that ability to gain traction.”

Cooper will work with recent Covington hires — former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and former Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) — to help corporate clients navigate the IP and antitrust space.

Berman and Kyl sat on the Judiciary committees in the House and Senate, respectively. The firm also recently hired Richard Hertling, former chief counsel and staff director of the House Judiciary Committee and policy expert on IP issues, in April.

“Aaron is an important addition to our IP lineup. He is widely respected in Congress and in the business community for his in-depth knowledge of the range of IP issues and how those issues affect the world of IP and business,” added Dan Bryant, chairman of the firm’s public policy and government affairs practice.

Cooper has had the top intellectual property job at Judiciary since 2009, where he helped develop and pass the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011, Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, the Theft of Trade Secrets Clarification Act of 2012.

Cooper started his career as an associate for Covington in 2001. He has been on Capitol Hill since 2005.